Objective To review the clinical,histological and diagnostic aspects of 12 documented cases of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver(NRHL),to make this condition be understood and dealt with better. Method Twelve NRHL cases were diagnosed based on liver biopsy from 300 portal hypertension patients who had been underwent splenectomy.Imaging studies were performed as part of the diagnostic evaluation.Clinical manifestation and biochemical tests were recorded at the time of diagnosis.Management and prognosis were also reviewed.Results Most patients were complicated with autoimmune disease,6 cases were diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus and 1 was Crohn's disease and 1 suspected ulcerative colitis.Six cases were treated by prednisone and 3 cases by immunosuppressant.Eleven cases had suffered from portal hypertension.All cases had no history of viral hepatitis.Biochemical tests showed mild increase of liver enzyme and relative normal synthetic liver function.The histological finding was nodular in the hepatic parenehyma,with mild periportal fibrosis,intraportal lymphocytic infiltration,narrow and obstruction of branch of portal vein,and lack of hepatocyte necrosis.All cases were diagnosed liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension before operation.Management was directed to portal hypertension and varices bleeding with satisfactory results.Most of them keep a stable condition during the follow-up. Conclusion The NRHL was uncommon and its cause and pathogenesis was unclear,may be related with immune and hepatic blood circulation disorder.It should be considered in patients with unexplained portal hypertension and distinguished it from liver cirrhosis.Liver biopsy confirms the diagnosis.Management directed to portal hypertension may improve clinical condition.

Objective To research the removal of the low concentration of formaldehyde in the indoor air by using copper sulfate.Methods The low concentration of formaldehyde(10.0 mg/L)in the indoor air was determined by the way of MBTH spectrophotometry.The influence of pH,chelon and concentration on the removal of different concentration formaldehyde was investigated by the way of chemisorption.Results When pH was 11.99,12.86,13.08 and 13.42,using copper sulfate,the removal rate of 10.0 mg/L formaldehyde was 43.82%,62.75%,69.21% and 73.40% respectively.When the concentration of copper sulfate was at 3.0 g/L,5.0 g/L,7.0 g/L and 10.0 g/L,the removal rate was 51.43%,73.40%,66.36% and 62.18% respectively in the condition of pH=13.42.When used potassium sodium tartrate and EDTA as the ehelon,pH=13.42,concentration of copper sulfate was 5.0 g/L,the removal rate of 2.0 mg/L formaldehyde was 77.21% and 62.51% respectively,that of 10.0 mg/L formaldehyde was 86.54% and 73.40% respectively,that of 100.0mg/L formaldehyde was 96.71% and 91.32% respectively.Conclusion Using potassium sodium tartrate as the chelon,at pH=13.42,5.0 g/L copper sulfate can produce a good removal efficiency for indoor low level formaldehyde.

Objective To investigate the effects of epidural administration of a mixture of betamethasone and lidocaine on nerve root inflammation and epidural space adhesion in rabbits. Methods Twenty-four adult male New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2.0-2.1 kg, were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n = 12 each): control group and treatment group. A catheter was inserted into epidural space at L2,3 interspace. Twenty-four hour after epidural catheter placement, talcum powder 0.5 mg/kg was injected into epidural space to make the model of nerve root inflammation and epidural space adhesion. Three days later a mixture of lidocaine 2.5 mg/kg and betamethasone 0.25 mg/kg was injected via the epidural catheter in treatment group, while the equal volume of normal saline was given in control group. At 21 days after administration of lidocaine and betamethasone, the spinal cord was removed, and dura mater and nerve root were checked with naked eye, light microscope and electron microscope.The neutrophil count in the dura mater was determined. Results There was nerve root inflammation and epidural space adhesion in control group. The nerve root inflammation and epidural space adhesion was not observed in treatment group. The neutrophil count was reduced in treatment group (21 ± 12) compared with control group (250 ±43) ( P < 0.01) . Conclusion Epidural administration of a mixture of betamethasone and lidocaine can alleviate nerve root inflammation and epidural space adhesion.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of isoflurane preconditioning on myocardium against isehemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury and the possible mechanism.Methods Fifty male SD rats weighing 250- 300 g were randomly divided into 5 groups(n=10 each):Ⅰ control group(C);Ⅱ I/R group and 3 isoflurane preconditioning groups with 0.5%(Ⅲ),or 1.0%(Ⅳ)or 2.0% isoflurane(Ⅴ).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital 40 mg?kg~(-1).The hearts were immediately excised and placed in cold K-H solution.The aorta was canuulated and heart retrogradely perfused with K-H solution aerated with 95% O_2 and 5% CO_2 at 37℃ and 10 kPa in a langendorff apparatus.Left ventricular end-diastollc pressure(LVEDP)and left ventrieular systolic pressure(LVSP)were measured from a fluid-filled latex balloon in the left ventricle.The isolated hearts were made globally ischemic for 30 min followed by 60 rain reperfusion in group Ⅱ-Ⅴ.In the 3 isoflurane preconditioning groups the hearts were perfused with K-H solution saturated with 0.5% or 1.0% or 2.0% isoflurane for 15 rain followed by 15 rain washout before ischemia.The cardiac function variables including LVEDP,LVSP dp/dt_(min),dp/dt_(max) and HR were measured after epuilibrium(baseline values),immediately before ischemia,at the end of 30 min ischemia and 60 min reperfusion.The infarct size and cytochrome C level in cytoplasm and mitochondria of myocytes were measured.Results I/R significantly increased LVEDP and decreased LVSP,dp/dt_(min),dp/dt_(max) as compare with control group.Sevoflurane preconditioning significantly attenuated the depression of cardiac function caused by I/R.Only LVEDP was significantly higher during reperfusion period in the 3 sevoflurane preconditioning group than in the control group but there was no significant difference in LVSP,dp/ dt_(min),dp/dt_(max) between control group and the 3 preconditioning groups.The infarct size was significantly smaller in the 3 preconditioning groups than in I/R group.Cytochrome C level was significantly increased in cytoplasm but decreased in mitochondria in I/R group as compared with control group.Sevoflurane preconditioning significantly ameliorated the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria to cytoplasm in the 3 sevoflurane preconditioning group.Conclusion Isoflurane preconditioning can protect the heart against I/R injury by attenuation of the release of cytochrone C from mitochondria to cytoplasm.

Objective To explore the value of phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MR) in diagnosis of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in pediatric patients. Methods Totally 42 patients (aged from 9 months to 15 years) with secundum ASD proved with tansthoric echocardiographic (TTE) were evaluated with PC-MRI. Images of the flow through ASD were obtained with PC-MRI. The distances of ASD rim to superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC), atrioventricular valves (AVV) and right upper pulmonary vein (RUPV), as well as the entrances of the vena cava and right upper pulmonary vein (RUPV) were assessed. Results The sizes of ASD and distances of ASD rim to the adjacent structures (SVC, RVC, AVV and RUPV) at PC-MRI were well consistent with those of TTE in 42 patients (P<0.001). PC-MRI results in 26 patients correlated well with surgical results (P<0.001). With different velocity encoding, compared with surgical results, measurements of ASD's sizes were more accurate when setting velocity from 50 to 70 cm/s than 90 cm/s. Conclusion The shape of ASD can be virtually depicted with PC-MRI. PC-MRI can accurately assess the defect size, number, rim distances to adjacent structures, therefore providing a new method for depiction of congenital heart anomaly.

Objective The cytotoxic microbial strains isolated from the deep ocean water and sediments were screened,and the secondary metabolites of bioactive fungus c2b were investi- gated.Methods Active bioactive microbial strains were screened using brine shrimp and chro- nic medulla leucocythemia leukocythemia(K562)cell line.The cytotoxic components of fun- gus c2b were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation and solvent extraction,silica gel col- umn chromatography and preparative HPLC.Their structures were established by pbysico- chemical properties and spectral analyses.The cytotoxicities of compounds were evaluated by SRB method.Results and Conclusion Twenty-nine strains of fungi were isolated.Among them,seven strains showed cytotoxic activities.Six compounds(1～6)were isolated and i- dentified as N-acetyl histamine(1),chrysogine(2),ergosterol peroxide(3),5,8-epidioxy- 24-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3?-ol(4)cerevisterol(5)and(4E,8E)-N-[(2'R,3'E)-2'-hy- droxy-3'-hexadecenoyl]-1-O-?-D-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadiene(6),respective- ly.Compound 3 and 4 showed median cytotoxicity.

In this study, 101 strains of bacteria were isolated from arct ic water and sediment samples. The methanol extracts of the fermented broth prod uced by these strains were screened in vitro for anti-tumor activity on mou se tsFT210 cells using the method of flow cytometry, and screened for antibacter ial activity by the method of paper disk diffusion. The result showed that one strain exhibited anti-tumor activity and eight strains had antibacterial activ ity. The stability of the antibacterial components produced by strain AR084 an d its optimum medium were also studied. The research indicated that arctic bac teria had potential application in pharmaceutics.

OBJECTIVETo increase the probability of successful renal artery angiography with a three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (3D CE-MRA).

METHODS3D CE-MRA was performed in 33 patients with hypertension. To calculate the scan delay time, a testing contrast agent bolus of 2 ml was injected for single sagittal slice real-time scanning, followed by oblique coronal 3D Fast TOF SPGRE. With maximum intensity projection, a set of images was acquired.

RESULTSExact scan delay time was obtained in all the cases from which clear images were acquired with the exception of two cases in which failure of breath-holding occurred during the scanning.

CONCLUSIONThis examination enhances the performance by adopting elliptical-centric k-space recording for data acquisition for the center in k-space at the beginning of acquisition, and utilizing preceding testing bolus injection and signal intensity/time curve for determining the scan delay time, using slice selection and multiview image reconstruction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; diagnosis ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery

OBJECTIVETo review the health status of mothers undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF) and their offspring.

METHODSHealth status of 210 IVF mothers and offspring performed from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002 was compared with that of those who conceived naturally retrospectively.

RESULTA significant differences were found in rates of multiple births, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy,cesarean section, preterm delivery,low (and very low) birth weight infant,malformation(33.33 % with compared 1.72 %, 10.87 % with compared 4.59 %, 89.85 % with compared 65.57 %, 24.64 % with compared 6.27 %, 25.68 % with compared 8.23 %, 3.83 % with compared 1.17 %, all P<0.01) between IVF and those conceived naturally. The rates of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy,preterm delivery, low (and very low) birth weight infant were related to the rate of multiple births OR. 95 %CI were 3.49, 1.16-10.50; 13.65, 5.39-34.58; 14.91, 5.53-40.17; respectively. There was no statistical difference in neonatal outcome between normal IVF and intra-cytop-lasmic sperm injection (P>0.05); no difference in height and weight between full-term and preterm (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAssisted reproductive technologies increase multiple births rate, resulting in high rates of hypertensive disorders, preterm delivery, low (and very low) birth weight infant.

Adult ; Cesarean Section ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Health Status ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; epidemiology ; Multiple Birth Offspring ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

In this study, solvent evaporation method was used to preparing baicalin ethylcellulose microspheres for intranasal administration. The prepared microspheres were round with certain rough surface. The average drug loading and entrapment efficiency was (33. 31 ± 0. 045)% , (63. 34 ± 0. 11)% , respectively. As the characteristic crystalline peaks of baicalin were observed in the microspheres sample, the result of X-ray diffractometric analysis indicated that the baicalin was present in crystalline form after its entrapment in ethylcellulose matrix. By investigating the thermogram of microspheres sample, it was found that endothermic peak of baicalin was shifted from 211. 8 °C to 244. 2 °C and associated with the first broad endothermic peak of ethylcellulose. This could confirm that baicalin was loaded into ethylcellulose, nor simply physical mixture. The powder flowability test exhibited that the specific energy of microspheres was 3. 57 mJ . g-1 and the pressure drop was 2. 22 mBar when air kept the speed of 2 mm . s-1 through the powder bed with the force was 15 kPa. The consequence of the baicalin in vitro released from microspheres showed that the pure baicalin sample displayed faster (90%) release than microspheres sample (75%) in 7 h. Fitting model for release curve before 7 h, the results showed that the pure baicalin sample and the microsphere sample accorded with first order model (R2 = 0. 990 4) and Riger-Peppas model(R2 = 0. 961 2), respectively. Ex vivo rabbit nasal mucosa permeability experiment revealed that the value of cumulative release rate per unit area of the microsphere sample was 1. 56 times that of the pure baicalin sample. This provided the foundation for the in vivo pharmacokinetic study.
Administration, Intranasal ; Air Pressure ; Animals ; Cellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microspheres ; Mucous Membrane ; metabolism ; Particle Size ; Powders ; Rabbits ; Solvents ; X-Ray Diffraction